It’s that time of year! Wedding season!
There are all types of weddings with all types of budgets,
but when researching for this blog article we discovered that, depending on
where you are tying the knot, the national average spent on a wedding is
$28,427 excluding the honeymoon. That may seem like a little or a lot to you,
but one thing is certain…you are spending thousands of dollars on a special
occasion and services don’t come cheap!
You might be feeling the pressure to cut costs here and
there and one of the ways you can do that is to DIY your wedding makeup.
Now…you might be saying to yourself, “the Pro has totally lost her mind! Apply
my own makeup on the most important day of my life?” Yes! Especially if you
wear makeup everyday!
Please don’t get me wrong…I do think that if you have the
means, then hiring a professional makeup and hairstylist for your wedding is a
smart move! However, I wanted to reach out to the budget conscious bride (who
might be getting a little heat from daddy in the spending department) and let
her know that there is light at the end of the dark wedding tunnel!
Let’s face it…if you have experience putting makeup on your
face and if you take care of your skin, then you can be your own makeup artist!
It’s really just a matter of having a few makeup “trials” with yourself, being
realistic, and choosing the right colors and product for your big day!
First, you want to analyze your skin. Hopefully you are very
familiar with the type of skin texture and issues that you have, but you need
to remember that the months leading up to the your wedding day can be filled
with stress, which can take its toll and cause skin problems. Lack of sleep and
an unhealthy diet can also wreak havoc on your face so really focus on yourself
and arrange some pre-wedding pampering. If you can afford it, make sure you are
visiting an esthetician long before to help control breakouts if you are prone
and be extremely diligent in your cleansing routine at home.
Next, just like the Pros do…schedule several makeup “trials”
with yourself. Comb through the Internet or magazines and collect looks that you
love, but be realistic! Do you love the way Adele wears her makeup, but have
had trouble with using a liner to create that signature cat eye “flick?” You
can learn how to do it by practicing, but on your wedding day you may be
nervous and the combination of a shaky hand, pointed eyeliner and the time
constraints of the day could have you turning Bridezilla!
During these makeup sessions with yourself, this Pro
encourages you to take the time to choose the right foundation and concealer
and you should only use these products if your skin needs it for coverage.
There are thousands of brands on the market that come in a variety of shades,
textures and formulations. You may consider trying a “long-lasting” formula, a
tinted moisturizer, BB Cream or airbrush that can be self-applied.
There are formulations for dry, oily and combination skin
and if you get the wrong one for your skin type then you will be extremely
disappointed in the results. Having beautiful skin will enhance the color
makeup that comes next so invest a little more money and time in this area.
Now, let’s talk about the “windows into your soul!” Your
groom is going to gaze lovingly into your eyes and utter the vows of matrimony
so you don’t want him distracted by crazy color or harsh, heavy liner that is
enhanced by gobs of clumpy mascara! Stick with neutral colors for your eye makeup and really
experiment with those colors to bring out your best eye shape.
As far as eyeliner and mascara are concerned, we advise on
purchasing something that is water resistant or waterproof because we have seen
way to many emotional disasters that have sent the bride immediately to the
ladies room for a touch up! Again, eyeliner is an area that may require several practice
days if you are attempting to achieve a look that you have not worn before and
you may choose a product that is foreign to you (i.e., a liquid vs. pencil
because of it’s staying power) so give yourself ample time to apply it. Remember, products that are water resistant have a
blending and setting time…once they set, you cannot blend and will need to
remove and reapply if you make a mistake so practice, practice, practice!
Let’s shift our focus to contour and highlight for the face
and cheek areas. If you want sculpted cheekbones then practice with the right
product. Applying a contour shadow can be scary and done wrong can look
disastrous so really do your research first and blend, blend, blend that
product into your skin!
A less intimidating alternative would be to use a bronzer,
but make sure it is matte and only a shade or two darker than your natural skin
tone. Bronzers are pretty colors used to alter the skin tone to give the
appearance of a healthy, sun-kissed glow. They tend to have a “sparkle” to them
so when you are shopping pay attention to the formulation you are purchasing.Traditional contours are “muddy” colors that mimic a dark
shadow creating the illusion of a “hollow” area of the face. The last thing you
want on your wedding day is to draw attention to the fact that you are “trying”
to sculpt in your cheekbones! It may be better to skip the contour/highlight
all together and opt for a bronzer that is applied lightly over the cheeks, at
the temples and across the bridge of your nose and chin.
Pucker up! The #1 rule for creating perfect lips on your big
day is to always remember this…you don’t want your lips arriving at the alter
before the rest of you! What we mean by that specifically is choose colors that
are flattering and leave loud, over glossed lips for the nightclub! If you do
decide to wear a vibrant color you should keep the rest of your makeup very natural
and make sure to use a longwearing formula because once you kiss to seal the
deal, you and your new man could walk away smudged and both wearing your
lipstick! That would make for an interesting(and hilarious)wedding photo
though!
Also, lips that have loads of gloss on them tend to look
unappealing and sticky. The last thing you want is for your groom to wipe off
your kiss on the back of his sleeve like he did when he was 7 years old and
grandma smothered him with love! A light gloss and the right color are crucial.
Find a color and formulation you like and experiment with different shades in
the range. You could purchase the coordinating lip liner in order to insure
that your lipstick stays put and doesn’t “bleed” if you are opting for a darker
tone.
A few other makeup products to consider are; setting powder,
brow pencils or gels and false eye lashes. Setting powders should be
transparent and you need only apply a little to achieve the perfect, fresh
look. If you over apply you can look dry and very matte and sometimes not
blending in a setting powder can lead to “flashback” if your photographer takes
photos of you indoors (like at your reception).
Brows are very important and we recommend that you have them
professionally groomed by a trained esthetician a few days before the wedding.
You can use a brow pencil or gel to fill in any sparse areas lightly. Using a
clear brow gel will help keep them in place and perfect throughout the day.
False lashes can be tricky and we recommend that if you have
not worn a false lash before or find them uncomfortable in any way then this is
not the time to try them out. The most common reason a false lash is bothersome
is because of the thick band in which the lashes are adhered. Look for a brand
that makes a natural looking lash and has a thin, clear band. Those will be
more comfortable and look better than a heavier version. Be aware that the glue
used to apply the lashes is usually made out of latex. If you have
any type of allergy or if your eyes tend to be sensitive then find a non-latex
version.
In the end remember that most photographers these days have
a great tool at their disposal called Photoshop and it is magical. I know you
all have seen what this amazing piece of technology can do and most
professionals will spend a little time enhancing the photos taken at your
wedding before you see the proofs and purchase.
Don’t worry, you can be your own makeup artist on your
wedding day and so can your bridesmaids, your mother and anyone else in your
bridal party. It just takes some preparation, practice and planning. We hope we
have saved you a little bit of money toward that very important honeymoon!
